The Stamford Kayak Group is not a legal entity. It is a forum (medium for the open discussion of subjects of public interest) and a social network (An association of people drawn together by family, work or hobby). The Stamford Kayak Group is a subgroup of Meetup.com which is a social networking site (A website that provides a virtual community for people interested in a particular subject or just to "hang out" together). Stamford Kayak Group, its organizers, and its members assume no legal and or civil responsibility for or to any individual.

The term organizer, co-organizer, assistant organizer, event organizer, or host (here in refereed to generically as organizers) relates only to an individuals status on the Meetup website forum. Such terms refer only to an individuals access to the calendar for posting events and notes and for moderating the website. These terms used in the context of the website forum does NOT suggest any autocratic leadership or group structure with regard to our common adventures. These individuals do not lead or guide the group during outings and they do not assume any responsibility or liability of or for others. The outings operate under an organically derived democratic system and individuals freely choose to participate in all or part of the common adventure.

The Stamford Kayaking Group organizers are not responsible for any incidents and/or accidents as a result of members who, by using this forum, locate, contact, and/or "meet up" with other members and/or non-members.

The Stamford Kayaking Group, the organizer and assistant organizers are not responsible for providing information to indicate the appropriate skill level or indicating if the paddle is in protected water, open water, currents and tidal effected water, boat traffic, etc. They are not responsible for monitoring the weather and or informing others of danguous weather or sea conditions. Further, they are not responsible for indicate if it is appropriate for rec-boat and sit-on-top kayaks to join the paddle. SKG, the organizer and assistant organizers are not responsible for monitoring and/or turning people away from any event. All of the paddles planned by SKG are in public access area where SKG, the organizer and assistant organizers have no legal authority to deny use or access to anyone.

All Stamford Kayaking Group members engaging in any activity during either a group event or privately planned event via the message board are responsible for their own safety and acquiring their own safety gear should such gear be necessary. When borrowing gear from other people including members of the group you are accepting the same responsibilities as if it was your own gear. All Stamford Kayaking Group members engaging in any activity are responsible for knowing the risk and responsibilities of that activity prior to engaging in the activity.

Your personal responsibility also includes your choice of individuals you associate with. The Stamford Kayaking Group does not screen members, perform back ground checks or verify kayaking skill levels or training. Please use the same discretion when meeting members via the group as you would elsewhere.

From time to time groups other than the Stamford Kayaking Group will have activities posted on the Stamford Kayaking Group calendar. These activities are posted for informational purposes only and neither the Stamford Kayaking Group , nor its organizers and assistant organizers assume any responsibility or liability for other groups activities or events. Such postings may include professional outfitters and paid tour guides. Such professional outfitters and paid tour guides are not legally affiliated with the Stamford Kayaking Group, and exist independent of the group. The Stamford Kayaking Group does not assume any of the legal liability of any professional outfitters and paid tour guides in any way.

Professional outfitters and paid tour guides are subject to a different liability model and should be appropriately insured. Professional outfitters and paid tour guides are responsible for establishing conditions of participation associate with their operation and services. Individual members when participating in "pay for paddle" events are responsible for following all conditions of participation established by the professional outfitter or paid tour guide.

The use of alcohol is a personal choice for those of legal age. Alcohol consumption greatly increased the risk of any activity. The Stamford Kayaking Group members are individually and personally responsible for there own actions, including choosing or continue to engage in an activity were other participants are consuming alcohol, drugs, and/or other substances that may impair an individuals coordination, judgment, or response.

Kayaking is a water activity and has inherent risks. Likewise, biking, skiing, snowboarding, roller blading and even dating are examples of other activities that bear risk as well. Stamford Kayaking Group members when engaging in any activity are doing so at their own risk even if it was planned by a Stamford Kayaking Group organizers or using the message board or personal messaging functions of this forum.

It is highly recommended that kayakers take a kayak safety training clinic and know the basics of safe boating and navigation. Member of the Stamford Kayaking Group may from time to time offer advice and opinions, but reliance on such information is at your own risk. You are responcible for knowing and understading the CT DEP and Coast Gaurd Kayak Safety Rules.

It is your personal responsibility to check the weather and tidal currents before you paddle and to assess how the predicted conditions will affect your personal paddling skills. Further, it is your personal responsibility to always bring appropriate gear for the predicted conditions.

The Stamford Kayak Group operates under a common adventure model (see definition below). The definition of common adventure is two or more individuals working cooperatively on an adventure trip toward common goals, but with three defining boundaries: absence autocratic leadership, and absence of monetary benefits to a group or individual, and absent legal responsibility of the group or individual to the safety of others on the trip. In simple words SKG events are just a fun trip among friends, with each person responsible for their own well being.





Sponsors of this forum are not responsible for any events, activity, adventure, or outing planed through this forum unless such is planned under their direct supervision. From time to time, owners, partners, or members of our sponsors may participate as private citizens in events planed through this forum. Doing so does not extend the responsible of the Sponsors to any member participating in the event.

Manually Propelled Vessel Safety Rules

Wear your Life Jacket (PFD)! Is it the proper size and in good condition? There must be a wearable PFD aboard for each person. From October 1st through May 31st, you must wear a PFD (state law). All children under 12 must wear a PFD at all times.

Don’t stand up in a manually propelled vessel, such as a canoe, kayak or rowboat.

Always paddle directly into or away from the wake of larger boats.

If you CAPSIZE, stay with the manually propelled vessel. If you are in a strong current or white water, float down river feet first and toes up with the vessel ahead of you.

Do not drink alcohol before or while operating a manually propelled vessel. Alcohol affects balance, coordination, and judgement.

For more stability in rough conditions, kneel on the bottom instead of sitting on the seats.

The most experienced paddler should take the stern position.

Know the conditions before you set out. Always paddle within your abilities.

Load the manually propelled vessel evenly, fore and aft and side to side.

Be sure that you have the right boat for the conditions.

Wear proper clothing, including a hat. If you end up in the water, do not remove your clothes. They help you float and protect you against hypothermia.



Stay away from low head dams. They are extremely dangerous from both up and down stream.

Rough water, white water, or rapids are no place for beginners. Always wear a solid, correctly fitted helmet when white water canoeing or kayaking.

Paddle near shore, out of channels.

Paddle with a partner.

Always leave a FLOAT PLAN with someone ashore. Be specific about where you plan to go and when you will be back. Be sure to report back in when you return.

Major Causes of Boating Accidents:

Improper loading or overloading

Disregard for weather or water conditions

Improper lookout

Capsizing or falling overboard

Failure to wear a life jacket (PFD)

Wear Your Life Jacket!

For more Boating Safety and Education information go to http://www.ct.gov/dep...

What is the The common adventure model?

a couple of friends getting together and going on a trip. It might be two or three friends going climbing or hiking together. Or it might be a couple of families combining to go rafting together. Someone comes up with the idea, but there's really no designated leader. No one is charging money or acting as a "guide." It's just a fun trip among friends.

But when it is applied to a club, some further definition is need. (however, remember, SKG is not a club it is a web based forum for people to find friends to plan common adventures)

Short Definition
The common adventure model, as described below in the Long Definition, is quite lengthy and it is helpful to have a definition that can encapsulate the model in a sentence. Although short definitions are always a compromise, the following is one possible way of describing it:

A common adventure trip is two or more individuals working cooperatively for common goals, and sharing expenses, decision making, and responsibilities as equitably as possible.

Long Definition
A Model of Common Adventure Concept

To define the Common Adventure Model we need to look into its attributes. The list of underlying values leads naturally into the development of a theoretical model of the common adventure concept. What's important as the model is constructed, however, is that only those values from the list become a part of it. Legal, cultural or administrative concerns are extraneous components which can alter or pollute the resulting model. Thus, with an eye to staying within the boundaries of its philosophical principles, the following model results:

Since ownership is an important part of the underlying value system, trips are structured in our model so that participants are interactive and intimately involved in organizing and running the trip. That would mean they help in the planning, organizing, cooking, washing, and cleaning up afterwards. By their intimate involvement, the participants become the trip. On a practical level, some type of pre-trip involvement is necessary. A planning meeting is held so that all members understand what the trip involves, and understand its goals and the risks. At the planning meeting, the group—not one individual—hashes out the wheres, whens and whats of the trip.
The success or failure of the trip, then, rests in the hands of the group and not the person who initiated the idea or the sponsoring club or institution (if there is one). In doing so, members of the group are taking responsibility for the trip and responsibility for each other.

The trip environment is one of concern for all members of the group. Fairness and free and open discussion are fostered. Individuals in the group are encouraged to think independently for themselves and freely express their ideas, but independence is tempered by empathy for the other members of the group. Because everyone can express their ideas, the group is more creative, drawing from the talents of all of its members.

The type of trip selected involves physical activity such as hiking, paddling, skiing, climbing and not passive motorized activities. An attempt is made by the group or sponsoring club or institution (if there is one) to keep things simple. Rules—other than those important to the group's safety—procedures, extraneous structure and other bureaucratic barriers to participation are minimized as much as possible.

Groups are structured horizontally so that all members share in decision making. Decisions are made by consensus in a democratic manner. Top-down leadership is generally avoided unless, perhaps in an emergency, it is necessary for the concern and well-being of the group. Within the horizontal structure, leaders—those who can help move the group towards its goals—emerge. By involving everyone and accepting the emergence of leaders, the group is able to tap all of its resources, making it more creative and stronger than if one person made all the decisions.

Independent thought is encouraged during decision making, but once consensus is reached, the group comes together as a team and works cooperatively to achieve the common goal(s). All members of the group pitch in and help, and because of empathy for one another, responsibilities are spread out among the group as equitably as possible. Free and open discussion promotes cooperation and equitable sharing. With an emphasis on openness and personal responsibility, all members of the group contribute to process of making the trip safe, watching out for each other's welfare.

Since simplification and the desire to provide an alternative to commercialization is a part of the underlying value system, the trip is structured so that no entities or individuals benefit monetarily. Thus, in the model no trip fees go to the sponsoring club or institution (if one exists), nor would they go to any individual on the trip. By combining together in groups, trip costs are spread out and costs stay low.

Learning which occurs on the trip is experiential: learning by doing. When appropriate, knowledgeable members share their knowledge and skills with those less skilled, but there is no formalized instruction. Potentially, much can be learned through direct experience, but what is learned and the pace at which it is learned is determined by the individual.

Learning is reinforced in a positive manner. Because members are concerned and care about each other, those who learn new skills are encouraged and praised. Positive reinforcement also comes from the satisfaction of achieving goals: hiking to a lake, climbing to the top of a mountain, or running a river. Negative inducements such as the fear of punishment, or the fear of a receiving a low grade would not be acceptable. Other negative inducements such as the use of "survival" techniques whereby members of the group don't eat unless they snare an animal or find an edible plant would also not be acceptable.

Finally, the care of the natural environment would be embraced and all members of the group would work to minimize their impact on the environment.

For more go to:
http://www.isu.edu/ou...
http://www.isu.edu/ou...